What to do when the fabric isn't quite right and a BIG surprise!

Sometimes you have a fabric and it isn't quite right. I have a lovely red maple and oak leaf fabric and it has the odd bunch of acorns here and there. I love this fabric and used it to make a quilt and have fussy cut leaves for wallhangings.

I used this fabric to make a One Block Wonder quilt. I was very happy with the finished quilt top however the white highlights on the acorns stuck out like a sore thumb and since the similar blocks are clustered together when making a One Block Wonder the white was more prominent than it was in the fabric. Problems need solutions so what I did was use a Sakura Pigma Brush (it is like the Sakura Pigma pens only it has what looks like a felt tip so it gives more ink coverage) and I gently ran it over the white highlights.

In the picture below the acorns is the upper left corner have not been altered. The acorns in the lower right corner have had brown ink applied to them.

 This is the quilt. I think is looks rich and elegant....maybe a bit like a Persian carpet or a paisley.

These are some of the blocks which had a lot of acorns. The white has been softened with the brown ink so that they are much better.

And the corner with a mitred corner - I used my sneaky mitred corner technique (you'll find it under Tips and Tutorials). I also touched up the acorns in the border fabric and on the binding!

 



You can also use this same technique if you've quilted with a light coloured quilting thread and have inadvertently strayed onto a darker fabric. If the quilting thread is noticeable simply take a fabric marking pen in a colour that works with your fabric and gently touch the quilting thread to mute the colour. You don't want to hold the pen on the thread because it will wick up the ink - just lightly touch the stitches to soften the colour.

 

Well I've got some good news for you! The English paper piecing and foundation pieced hexagon instruction manuals that I've been promising should be posted tomorrow! The first is titled Easier Than Pie - English Paper Piecing for Beginners. The second is titled Easier Than Pie and Beyond - Where Foundation Piecing Meets English Paper Piecing. Here are some foundation pieced hexagons to tempt you!

  

 

I will also be posting Master Hexagon Templates for your use. You will be able to print or copy what you need and then cut them out. I prefer to cut out my own hexagons because precuts can get expensive if I am making a large quilt. 

 

I hope you'll enjoy the instruction manuals and the templates and if you want to post a link my blog so that others can access my instructions that would be terrific!

 

Until I post again, happy sewing!